diff --git a/src/bench/checkblock.cpp b/src/bench/checkblock.cpp
index 9558d64f199..2d9eac12339 100644
--- a/src/bench/checkblock.cpp
+++ b/src/bench/checkblock.cpp
@@ -21,15 +21,38 @@
 #include <optional>
 #include <vector>
 
+static void SizeComputerBlock(benchmark::Bench& bench) {
+    CBlock block;
+    DataStream(benchmark::data::block413567) >> TX_WITH_WITNESS(block);
+
+    bench.unit("block").run([&] {
+        SizeComputer size_computer;
+        size_computer << TX_WITH_WITNESS(block);
+        assert(size_computer.size() == benchmark::data::block413567.size());
+    });
+}
+
+static void SerializeBlock(benchmark::Bench& bench) {
+    CBlock block;
+    DataStream(benchmark::data::block413567) >> TX_WITH_WITNESS(block);
+
+    // Create output stream and verify first serialization matches input
+    bench.unit("block").run([&] {
+        DataStream output_stream(benchmark::data::block413567.size());
+        output_stream << TX_WITH_WITNESS(block);
+        assert(output_stream.size() == benchmark::data::block413567.size());
+    });
+}
+
 // These are the two major time-sinks which happen after we have fully received
 // a block off the wire, but before we can relay the block on to peers using
 // compact block relay.
 
-static void DeserializeBlockTest(benchmark::Bench& bench)
+static void DeserializeBlock(benchmark::Bench& bench)
 {
     DataStream stream(benchmark::data::block413567);
     std::byte a{0};
-    stream.write({&a, 1}); // Prevent compaction
+    stream.write(std::span{&a, 1}); // Prevent compaction
 
     bench.unit("block").run([&] {
         CBlock block;
@@ -39,11 +62,11 @@ static void DeserializeBlockTest(benchmark::Bench& bench)
     });
 }
 
-static void DeserializeAndCheckBlockTest(benchmark::Bench& bench)
+static void DeserializeAndCheckBlock(benchmark::Bench& bench)
 {
     DataStream stream(benchmark::data::block413567);
     std::byte a{0};
-    stream.write({&a, 1}); // Prevent compaction
+    stream.write(std::span{&a, 1}); // Prevent compaction
 
     ArgsManager bench_args;
     const auto chainParams = CreateChainParams(bench_args, ChainType::MAIN);
@@ -60,5 +83,7 @@ static void DeserializeAndCheckBlockTest(benchmark::Bench& bench)
     });
 }
 
-BENCHMARK(DeserializeBlockTest, benchmark::PriorityLevel::HIGH);
-BENCHMARK(DeserializeAndCheckBlockTest, benchmark::PriorityLevel::HIGH);
+BENCHMARK(SizeComputerBlock, benchmark::PriorityLevel::HIGH);
+BENCHMARK(SerializeBlock, benchmark::PriorityLevel::HIGH);
+BENCHMARK(DeserializeBlock, benchmark::PriorityLevel::HIGH);
+BENCHMARK(DeserializeAndCheckBlock, benchmark::PriorityLevel::HIGH);
diff --git a/src/bench/rpc_blockchain.cpp b/src/bench/rpc_blockchain.cpp
index df951a14e49..a5d28b4a60b 100644
--- a/src/bench/rpc_blockchain.cpp
+++ b/src/bench/rpc_blockchain.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ struct TestBlockAndIndex {
     {
         DataStream stream{benchmark::data::block413567};
         std::byte a{0};
-        stream.write({&a, 1}); // Prevent compaction
+        stream.write(std::span{&a, 1}); // Prevent compaction
 
         stream >> TX_WITH_WITNESS(block);
 
diff --git a/src/crypto/sha256.cpp b/src/crypto/sha256.cpp
index 09c5d3123e8..6cf77849aac 100644
--- a/src/crypto/sha256.cpp
+++ b/src/crypto/sha256.cpp
@@ -723,6 +723,21 @@ CSHA256& CSHA256::Write(const unsigned char* data, size_t len)
     }
     return *this;
 }
+CSHA256& CSHA256::Write(unsigned char data)
+{
+    size_t bufsize = bytes % 64;
+
+    // Add the single byte to the buffer
+    buf[bufsize] = data;
+    bytes += 1;
+
+    if (bufsize == 63) {
+        // Process the buffer if full
+        Transform(s, buf, 1);
+    }
+
+    return *this;
+}
 
 void CSHA256::Finalize(unsigned char hash[OUTPUT_SIZE])
 {
diff --git a/src/crypto/sha256.h b/src/crypto/sha256.h
index b1348631d32..16aae54aa23 100644
--- a/src/crypto/sha256.h
+++ b/src/crypto/sha256.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ public:
 
     CSHA256();
     CSHA256& Write(const unsigned char* data, size_t len);
+    CSHA256& Write(unsigned char data);
     void Finalize(unsigned char hash[OUTPUT_SIZE]);
     CSHA256& Reset();
 };
diff --git a/src/hash.h b/src/hash.h
index 34486af64a1..da3b1ab1145 100644
--- a/src/hash.h
+++ b/src/hash.h
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ public:
         sha.Write(input.data(), input.size());
         return *this;
     }
+    CHash256& Write(std::span<const unsigned char, 1> input) {
+        sha.Write(input[0]);
+        return *this;
+    }
 
     CHash256& Reset() {
         sha.Reset();
@@ -63,6 +67,10 @@ public:
         sha.Write(input.data(), input.size());
         return *this;
     }
+    CHash160& Write(std::span<const unsigned char, 1> input) {
+        sha.Write(input[0]);
+        return *this;
+    }
 
     CHash160& Reset() {
         sha.Reset();
@@ -107,6 +115,10 @@ public:
     {
         ctx.Write(UCharCast(src.data()), src.size());
     }
+    void write(std::span<const std::byte, 1> src)
+    {
+        ctx.Write(*UCharCast(&src[0]));
+    }
 
     /** Compute the double-SHA256 hash of all data written to this object.
      *
@@ -160,13 +172,18 @@ public:
         m_source.read(dst);
         this->write(dst);
     }
+    void read(std::span<std::byte, 1> dst)
+    {
+        m_source.read(dst);
+        this->write(std::span<const std::byte, 1>{dst});
+    }
 
     void ignore(size_t num_bytes)
     {
         std::byte data[1024];
         while (num_bytes > 0) {
             size_t now = std::min<size_t>(num_bytes, 1024);
-            read({data, now});
+            read(std::span{data, now});
             num_bytes -= now;
         }
     }
@@ -194,6 +211,11 @@ public:
         m_source.write(src);
         HashWriter::write(src);
     }
+    void write(std::span<const std::byte, 1> src)
+    {
+        m_source.write(src);
+        HashWriter::write(src);
+    }
 
     template <typename T>
     HashedSourceWriter& operator<<(const T& obj)
diff --git a/src/serialize.h b/src/serialize.h
index 98851056bdb..5ec8b24df80 100644
--- a/src/serialize.h
+++ b/src/serialize.h
@@ -48,78 +48,75 @@ static const unsigned int MAX_VECTOR_ALLOCATE = 5000000;
 struct deserialize_type {};
 constexpr deserialize_type deserialize {};
 
+class SizeComputer;
+
+//! Check if type contains a stream by seeing if it has a GetStream() method.
+template<typename T>
+concept ContainsStream = requires(T t) { t.GetStream(); };
+
+template<typename T>
+concept ContainsSizeComputer = ContainsStream<T> &&
+    std::is_same_v<std::remove_reference_t<decltype(std::declval<T>().GetStream())>, SizeComputer>;
+
 /*
  * Lowest-level serialization and conversion.
  */
 template<typename Stream> inline void ser_writedata8(Stream &s, uint8_t obj)
 {
-    s.write(std::as_bytes(std::span{&obj, 1}));
+    s.write(std::as_bytes(std::span<uint8_t, 1>{&obj, 1}));
 }
 template<typename Stream> inline void ser_writedata16(Stream &s, uint16_t obj)
 {
     obj = htole16_internal(obj);
-    s.write(std::as_bytes(std::span{&obj, 1}));
-}
-template<typename Stream> inline void ser_writedata16be(Stream &s, uint16_t obj)
-{
-    obj = htobe16_internal(obj);
-    s.write(std::as_bytes(std::span{&obj, 1}));
+    s.write(std::as_bytes(std::span<uint16_t, 1>{&obj, 1}));
 }
 template<typename Stream> inline void ser_writedata32(Stream &s, uint32_t obj)
 {
     obj = htole32_internal(obj);
-    s.write(std::as_bytes(std::span{&obj, 1}));
+    s.write(std::as_bytes(std::span<uint32_t, 1>{&obj, 1}));
 }
 template<typename Stream> inline void ser_writedata32be(Stream &s, uint32_t obj)
 {
     obj = htobe32_internal(obj);
-    s.write(std::as_bytes(std::span{&obj, 1}));
+    s.write(std::as_bytes(std::span<uint32_t, 1>{&obj, 1}));
 }
 template<typename Stream> inline void ser_writedata64(Stream &s, uint64_t obj)
 {
     obj = htole64_internal(obj);
-    s.write(std::as_bytes(std::span{&obj, 1}));
+    s.write(std::as_bytes(std::span<uint64_t, 1>{&obj, 1}));
 }
 template<typename Stream> inline uint8_t ser_readdata8(Stream &s)
 {
     uint8_t obj;
-    s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(std::span{&obj, 1}));
+    s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(std::span<uint8_t, 1>{&obj, 1}));
     return obj;
 }
 template<typename Stream> inline uint16_t ser_readdata16(Stream &s)
 {
     uint16_t obj;
-    s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(std::span{&obj, 1}));
+    s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(std::span<uint16_t, 1>{&obj, 1}));
     return le16toh_internal(obj);
 }
-template<typename Stream> inline uint16_t ser_readdata16be(Stream &s)
-{
-    uint16_t obj;
-    s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(std::span{&obj, 1}));
-    return be16toh_internal(obj);
-}
 template<typename Stream> inline uint32_t ser_readdata32(Stream &s)
 {
     uint32_t obj;
-    s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(std::span{&obj, 1}));
+    s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(std::span<uint32_t, 1>{&obj, 1}));
     return le32toh_internal(obj);
 }
 template<typename Stream> inline uint32_t ser_readdata32be(Stream &s)
 {
     uint32_t obj;
-    s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(std::span{&obj, 1}));
+    s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(std::span<uint32_t, 1>{&obj, 1}));
     return be32toh_internal(obj);
 }
 template<typename Stream> inline uint64_t ser_readdata64(Stream &s)
 {
     uint64_t obj;
-    s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(std::span{&obj, 1}));
+    s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(std::span<uint64_t, 1>{&obj, 1}));
     return le64toh_internal(obj);
 }
 
 
-class SizeComputer;
-
 /**
  * Convert any argument to a reference to X, maintaining constness.
  *
@@ -252,38 +249,76 @@ const Out& AsBase(const In& x)
 template<class T>
 concept CharNotInt8 = std::same_as<T, char> && !std::same_as<T, int8_t>;
 
+template <typename T>
+concept ByteOrIntegral = std::is_same_v<T, std::byte> ||
+    (std::is_integral_v<T> && !std::is_same_v<T, char>);
+
 template <typename Stream, CharNotInt8 V> void Serialize(Stream&, V) = delete; // char serialization forbidden. Use uint8_t or int8_t
-template <typename Stream> void Serialize(Stream& s, std::byte a) { ser_writedata8(s, uint8_t(a)); }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Serialize(Stream& s, int8_t a  ) { ser_writedata8(s, a); }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Serialize(Stream& s, uint8_t a ) { ser_writedata8(s, a); }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Serialize(Stream& s, int16_t a ) { ser_writedata16(s, a); }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Serialize(Stream& s, uint16_t a) { ser_writedata16(s, a); }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Serialize(Stream& s, int32_t a ) { ser_writedata32(s, a); }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Serialize(Stream& s, uint32_t a) { ser_writedata32(s, a); }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Serialize(Stream& s, int64_t a ) { ser_writedata64(s, a); }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Serialize(Stream& s, uint64_t a) { ser_writedata64(s, a); }
-template <typename Stream, BasicByte B, int N> void Serialize(Stream& s, const B (&a)[N]) { s.write(MakeByteSpan(a)); }
-template <typename Stream, BasicByte B, std::size_t N> void Serialize(Stream& s, const std::array<B, N>& a) { s.write(MakeByteSpan(a)); }
-template <typename Stream, BasicByte B, std::size_t N> void Serialize(Stream& s, std::span<B, N> span) { s.write(std::as_bytes(span)); }
-template <typename Stream, BasicByte B> void Serialize(Stream& s, std::span<B> span) { s.write(std::as_bytes(span)); }
+template <typename Stream, ByteOrIntegral T> void Serialize(Stream& s, T a)
+{
+    if constexpr (ContainsSizeComputer<Stream>) {
+        s.GetStream().seek(sizeof(T));
+    } else if constexpr (sizeof(T) == 1) {
+        ser_writedata8(s, static_cast<uint8_t>(a));   // (u)int8_t or std::byte or bool
+    } else if constexpr (sizeof(T) == 2) {
+        ser_writedata16(s, static_cast<uint16_t>(a)); // (u)int16_t
+    } else if constexpr (sizeof(T) == 4) {
+        ser_writedata32(s, static_cast<uint32_t>(a)); // (u)int32_t
+    } else {
+        static_assert(sizeof(T) == 8);
+        ser_writedata64(s, static_cast<uint64_t>(a)); // (u)int64_t
+    }
+}
+template <typename Stream, BasicByte B, int N> void Serialize(Stream& s, const B (&a)[N])
+{
+    if constexpr (ContainsSizeComputer<Stream>) {
+        s.GetStream().seek(N);
+    } else {
+        s.write(MakeByteSpan(a));
+    }
+}
+template <typename Stream, BasicByte B, std::size_t N> void Serialize(Stream& s, const std::array<B, N>& a)
+{
+    if constexpr (ContainsSizeComputer<Stream>) {
+        s.GetStream().seek(N);
+    } else {
+        s.write(MakeByteSpan(a));
+    }
+}
+template <typename Stream, BasicByte B, std::size_t N> void Serialize(Stream& s, std::span<B, N> span)
+{
+    if constexpr (ContainsSizeComputer<Stream>) {
+        s.GetStream().seek(N);
+    } else {
+        s.write(std::as_bytes(span));
+    }
+}
+template <typename Stream, BasicByte B> void Serialize(Stream& s, std::span<B> span)
+{
+    if constexpr (ContainsSizeComputer<Stream>) {
+        s.GetStream().seek(span.size());
+    } else {
+        s.write(std::as_bytes(span));
+    }
+}
 
 template <typename Stream, CharNotInt8 V> void Unserialize(Stream&, V) = delete; // char serialization forbidden. Use uint8_t or int8_t
-template <typename Stream> void Unserialize(Stream& s, std::byte& a) { a = std::byte{ser_readdata8(s)}; }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Unserialize(Stream& s, int8_t& a  ) { a = ser_readdata8(s); }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Unserialize(Stream& s, uint8_t& a ) { a = ser_readdata8(s); }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Unserialize(Stream& s, int16_t& a ) { a = ser_readdata16(s); }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Unserialize(Stream& s, uint16_t& a) { a = ser_readdata16(s); }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Unserialize(Stream& s, int32_t& a ) { a = ser_readdata32(s); }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Unserialize(Stream& s, uint32_t& a) { a = ser_readdata32(s); }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Unserialize(Stream& s, int64_t& a ) { a = ser_readdata64(s); }
-template<typename Stream> inline void Unserialize(Stream& s, uint64_t& a) { a = ser_readdata64(s); }
+template <typename Stream, ByteOrIntegral T> void Unserialize(Stream& s, T& a)
+{
+    if constexpr (sizeof(T) == 1) {
+        a = static_cast<T>(ser_readdata8(s));  // (u)int8_t or std::byte or bool
+    } else if constexpr (sizeof(T) == 2) {
+        a = static_cast<T>(ser_readdata16(s)); // (u)int16_t
+    } else if constexpr (sizeof(T) == 4) {
+        a = static_cast<T>(ser_readdata32(s)); // (u)int32_t
+    } else {
+        static_assert(sizeof(T) == 8);
+        a = static_cast<T>(ser_readdata64(s)); // (u)int64_t
+    }
+}
 template <typename Stream, BasicByte B, int N> void Unserialize(Stream& s, B (&a)[N]) { s.read(MakeWritableByteSpan(a)); }
 template <typename Stream, BasicByte B, std::size_t N> void Unserialize(Stream& s, std::array<B, N>& a) { s.read(MakeWritableByteSpan(a)); }
 template <typename Stream, BasicByte B, std::size_t N> void Unserialize(Stream& s, std::span<B, N> span) { s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(span)); }
-template <typename Stream, BasicByte B> void Unserialize(Stream& s, std::span<B> span) { s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(span)); }
-
-template <typename Stream> inline void Serialize(Stream& s, bool a) { uint8_t f = a; ser_writedata8(s, f); }
-template <typename Stream> inline void Unserialize(Stream& s, bool& a) { uint8_t f = ser_readdata8(s); a = f; }
 // clang-format on
 
 
@@ -302,12 +337,14 @@ constexpr inline unsigned int GetSizeOfCompactSize(uint64_t nSize)
     else                         return sizeof(unsigned char) + sizeof(uint64_t);
 }
 
-inline void WriteCompactSize(SizeComputer& os, uint64_t nSize);
-
 template<typename Stream>
 void WriteCompactSize(Stream& os, uint64_t nSize)
 {
-    if (nSize < 253)
+    if constexpr (ContainsSizeComputer<Stream>)
+    {
+        os.GetStream().seek(GetSizeOfCompactSize(nSize));
+    }
+    else if (nSize < 253)
     {
         ser_writedata8(os, nSize);
     }
@@ -414,7 +451,7 @@ struct CheckVarIntMode {
 };
 
 template<VarIntMode Mode, typename I>
-inline unsigned int GetSizeOfVarInt(I n)
+constexpr unsigned int GetSizeOfVarInt(I n)
 {
     CheckVarIntMode<Mode, I>();
     int nRet = 0;
@@ -427,25 +464,26 @@ inline unsigned int GetSizeOfVarInt(I n)
     return nRet;
 }
 
-template<typename I>
-inline void WriteVarInt(SizeComputer& os, I n);
-
 template<typename Stream, VarIntMode Mode, typename I>
 void WriteVarInt(Stream& os, I n)
 {
-    CheckVarIntMode<Mode, I>();
-    unsigned char tmp[(sizeof(n)*8+6)/7];
-    int len=0;
-    while(true) {
-        tmp[len] = (n & 0x7F) | (len ? 0x80 : 0x00);
-        if (n <= 0x7F)
-            break;
-        n = (n >> 7) - 1;
-        len++;
+    if constexpr (ContainsSizeComputer<Stream>) {
+        os.GetStream().seek(GetSizeOfVarInt<Mode, I>(n));
+    } else {
+        CheckVarIntMode<Mode, I>();
+        unsigned char tmp[(sizeof(n)*8+6)/7];
+        int len=0;
+        while(true) {
+            tmp[len] = (n & 0x7F) | (len ? 0x80 : 0x00);
+            if (n <= 0x7F)
+                break;
+            n = (n >> 7) - 1;
+            len++;
+        }
+        do {
+            ser_writedata8(os, tmp[len]);
+        } while(len--);
     }
-    do {
-        ser_writedata8(os, tmp[len]);
-    } while(len--);
 }
 
 template<typename Stream, VarIntMode Mode, typename I>
@@ -489,7 +527,7 @@ public:
  * serialization, and Unser(stream, object&) for deserialization. Serialization routines (inside
  * READWRITE, or directly with << and >> operators), can then use Using<Formatter>(object).
  *
- * This works by constructing a Wrapper<Formatter, T>-wrapped version of object, where T is
+ * This works by constructing a Wrapper<Formatter, T&>-wrapped version of object, where T is
  * const during serialization, and non-const during deserialization, which maintains const
  * correctness.
  */
@@ -534,12 +572,14 @@ struct CustomUintFormatter
     template <typename Stream, typename I> void Ser(Stream& s, I v)
     {
         if (v < 0 || v > MAX) throw std::ios_base::failure("CustomUintFormatter value out of range");
-        if (BigEndian) {
+        if constexpr (ContainsSizeComputer<Stream>) {
+            s.GetStream().seek(Bytes);
+        } else if (BigEndian) {
             uint64_t raw = htobe64_internal(v);
-            s.write(std::as_bytes(std::span{&raw, 1}).last(Bytes));
+            s.write(std::as_bytes(std::span{&raw, 1}).template last<Bytes>());
         } else {
             uint64_t raw = htole64_internal(v);
-            s.write(std::as_bytes(std::span{&raw, 1}).first(Bytes));
+            s.write(std::as_bytes(std::span{&raw, 1}).template first<Bytes>());
         }
     }
 
@@ -549,10 +589,10 @@ struct CustomUintFormatter
         static_assert(std::numeric_limits<U>::max() >= MAX && std::numeric_limits<U>::min() <= 0, "Assigned type too small");
         uint64_t raw = 0;
         if (BigEndian) {
-            s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(std::span{&raw, 1}).last(Bytes));
+            s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(std::span{&raw, 1}).last<Bytes>());
             v = static_cast<I>(be64toh_internal(raw));
         } else {
-            s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(std::span{&raw, 1}).first(Bytes));
+            s.read(std::as_writable_bytes(std::span{&raw, 1}).first<Bytes>());
             v = static_cast<I>(le64toh_internal(raw));
         }
     }
@@ -1065,10 +1105,17 @@ protected:
 public:
     SizeComputer() = default;
 
+    SizeComputer& GetStream() { return *this; }
+    const SizeComputer& GetStream() const { return *this; };
+
     void write(std::span<const std::byte> src)
     {
         this->nSize += src.size();
     }
+    void write(std::span<const std::byte, 1>)
+    {
+        this->nSize += 1;
+    }
 
     /** Pretend _nSize bytes are written, without specifying them. */
     void seek(size_t _nSize)
@@ -1088,27 +1135,12 @@ public:
     }
 };
 
-template<typename I>
-inline void WriteVarInt(SizeComputer &s, I n)
-{
-    s.seek(GetSizeOfVarInt<I>(n));
-}
-
-inline void WriteCompactSize(SizeComputer &s, uint64_t nSize)
-{
-    s.seek(GetSizeOfCompactSize(nSize));
-}
-
 template <typename T>
 size_t GetSerializeSize(const T& t)
 {
     return (SizeComputer() << t).size();
 }
 
-//! Check if type contains a stream by seeing if has a GetStream() method.
-template<typename T>
-concept ContainsStream = requires(T t) { t.GetStream(); };
-
 /** Wrapper that overrides the GetParams() function of a stream. */
 template <typename SubStream, typename Params>
 class ParamsStream
@@ -1133,7 +1165,9 @@ public:
     template <typename U> ParamsStream& operator<<(const U& obj) { ::Serialize(*this, obj); return *this; }
     template <typename U> ParamsStream& operator>>(U&& obj) { ::Unserialize(*this, obj); return *this; }
     void write(std::span<const std::byte> src) { GetStream().write(src); }
+    void write(std::span<const std::byte, 1> src) { GetStream().write(src); }
     void read(std::span<std::byte> dst) { GetStream().read(dst); }
+    void read(std::span<std::byte, 1> dst) { GetStream().read(dst); }
     void ignore(size_t num) { GetStream().ignore(num); }
     bool eof() const { return GetStream().eof(); }
     size_t size() const { return GetStream().size(); }
diff --git a/src/streams.cpp b/src/streams.cpp
index 19c2b474452..b060e8f4ad8 100644
--- a/src/streams.cpp
+++ b/src/streams.cpp
@@ -64,6 +64,13 @@ void AutoFile::read(std::span<std::byte> dst)
     }
 }
 
+void AutoFile::read(std::span<std::byte, 1> dst)
+{
+    if (detail_fread(dst) != 1) {
+        throw std::ios_base::failure(feof() ? "AutoFile::read: end of file" : "AutoFile::read: fread failed");
+    }
+}
+
 void AutoFile::ignore(size_t nSize)
 {
     if (!m_file) throw std::ios_base::failure("AutoFile::ignore: file handle is nullptr");
@@ -97,6 +104,12 @@ void AutoFile::write(std::span<const std::byte> src)
     }
 }
 
+void AutoFile::write(std::span<const std::byte, 1> src)
+{
+    std::byte temp_byte = src[0];
+    write_buffer(std::span(&temp_byte, 1));
+}
+
 void AutoFile::write_buffer(std::span<std::byte> src)
 {
     if (!m_file) throw std::ios_base::failure("AutoFile::write_buffer: file handle is nullptr");
diff --git a/src/streams.h b/src/streams.h
index 1ebcff3671f..c11bbd4234d 100644
--- a/src/streams.h
+++ b/src/streams.h
@@ -83,6 +83,17 @@ public:
         }
         nPos += src.size();
     }
+    void write(std::span<const std::byte, 1> src)
+    {
+        assert(nPos <= vchData.size());
+        const auto byte{*UCharCast(&src[0])};
+        if (nPos < vchData.size()) {
+            vchData[nPos] = byte;
+        } else {
+            vchData.push_back(byte);
+        }
+        nPos += 1;
+    }
     template <typename T>
     VectorWriter& operator<<(const T& obj)
     {
@@ -162,6 +173,7 @@ public:
     typedef vector_type::reverse_iterator reverse_iterator;
 
     explicit DataStream() = default;
+    explicit DataStream(size_type n) { reserve(n); }
     explicit DataStream(std::span<const uint8_t> sp) : DataStream{std::as_bytes(sp)} {}
     explicit DataStream(std::span<const value_type> sp) : vch(sp.data(), sp.data() + sp.size()) {}
 
@@ -253,6 +265,10 @@ public:
         // Write to the end of the buffer
         vch.insert(vch.end(), src.begin(), src.end());
     }
+    void write(std::span<const value_type, 1> src)
+    {
+        vch.push_back(src[0]);
+    }
 
     template<typename T>
     DataStream& operator<<(const T& obj)
@@ -452,8 +468,10 @@ public:
     // Stream subset
     //
     void read(std::span<std::byte> dst);
+    void read(std::span<std::byte, 1> dst);
     void ignore(size_t nSize);
     void write(std::span<const std::byte> src);
+    void write(std::span<const std::byte, 1> src);
 
     template <typename T>
     AutoFile& operator<<(const T& obj)
diff --git a/src/test/crypto_tests.cpp b/src/test/crypto_tests.cpp
index 5588d4cdbc6..0aab9ef0e77 100644
--- a/src/test/crypto_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/crypto_tests.cpp
@@ -1079,7 +1079,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(sha256d64)
             in[j] = m_rng.randbits(8);
         }
         for (int j = 0; j < i; ++j) {
-            CHash256().Write({in + 64 * j, 64}).Finalize({out1 + 32 * j, 32});
+            CHash256().Write(std::span{in + 64 * j, 64}).Finalize({out1 + 32 * j, 32});
         }
         SHA256D64(out2, in, i);
         BOOST_CHECK(memcmp(out1, out2, 32 * i) == 0);
diff --git a/src/test/fuzz/autofile.cpp b/src/test/fuzz/autofile.cpp
index 81761c7bf96..f89b617479d 100644
--- a/src/test/fuzz/autofile.cpp
+++ b/src/test/fuzz/autofile.cpp
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@ FUZZ_TARGET(autofile)
             [&] {
                 std::array<std::byte, 4096> arr{};
                 try {
-                    auto_file.read({arr.data(), fuzzed_data_provider.ConsumeIntegralInRange<size_t>(0, 4096)});
+                    auto_file.read(std::span{arr.data(), fuzzed_data_provider.ConsumeIntegralInRange<size_t>(0, 4096)});
                 } catch (const std::ios_base::failure&) {
                 }
             },
             [&] {
                 const std::array<std::byte, 4096> arr{};
                 try {
-                    auto_file.write({arr.data(), fuzzed_data_provider.ConsumeIntegralInRange<size_t>(0, 4096)});
+                    auto_file.write(std::span{arr.data(), fuzzed_data_provider.ConsumeIntegralInRange<size_t>(0, 4096)});
                 } catch (const std::ios_base::failure&) {
                 }
             },
diff --git a/src/test/fuzz/integer.cpp b/src/test/fuzz/integer.cpp
index a6729155d1f..1215f532b74 100644
--- a/src/test/fuzz/integer.cpp
+++ b/src/test/fuzz/integer.cpp
@@ -236,10 +236,6 @@ FUZZ_TARGET(integer, .init = initialize_integer)
         const uint16_t deserialized_u16 = ser_readdata16(stream);
         assert(u16 == deserialized_u16 && stream.empty());
 
-        ser_writedata16be(stream, u16);
-        const uint16_t deserialized_u16be = ser_readdata16be(stream);
-        assert(u16 == deserialized_u16be && stream.empty());
-
         ser_writedata8(stream, u8);
         const uint8_t deserialized_u8 = ser_readdata8(stream);
         assert(u8 == deserialized_u8 && stream.empty());
diff --git a/src/test/streams_tests.cpp b/src/test/streams_tests.cpp
index c7b5cd353e0..4ec007f8820 100644
--- a/src/test/streams_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/streams_tests.cpp
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(xor_file)
     {
         // Check errors for missing file
         AutoFile xor_file{raw_file("rb"), xor_pat};
-        BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION(xor_file << std::byte{}, std::ios_base::failure, HasReason{"AutoFile::write: file handle is nullpt"});
-        BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION(xor_file >> std::byte{}, std::ios_base::failure, HasReason{"AutoFile::read: file handle is nullpt"});
-        BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION(xor_file.ignore(1), std::ios_base::failure, HasReason{"AutoFile::ignore: file handle is nullpt"});
+        BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION(xor_file << std::byte{}, std::ios_base::failure, HasReason{"file handle is nullpt"});
+        BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION(xor_file >> std::byte{}, std::ios_base::failure, HasReason{"file handle is nullpt"});
+        BOOST_CHECK_EXCEPTION(xor_file.ignore(1), std::ios_base::failure, HasReason{"file handle is nullpt"});
     }
     {
 #ifdef __MINGW64__